caius marius-第4节

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decline　the　office；　Saturninus　called　him　traitor　to　his　country　if；
in　such　apparent　danger；　he　would　avoid　command。　And　though　it　was　not
difficult　to　discover　that　he　was　merely　helping　Marius　in　putting
this　pretence　upon　the　people；　yet；　considering　that　the　present
juncture　much　required　his　skill；　and　his　good　fortunes　too；　they
voted　him　the　fourth　time　consul；　and　made　Catulus　Lutatius　his
colleague；　a　man　very　much　esteemed　by　the　nobility　and　not
unagreeable　to　the　commons。
　　Marius；　having　notice　of　the　enemy's　approach；　with　all　expedition
passed　the　Alps；　and　pitching　his　camp　by　the　river　Rhone；　took　care
first　for　plentiful　supplies　of　victuals：　lest　at　any　time　he　should
be　forced　to　fight　at　a　disadvantage　for　want　of　necessaries。　The
carriage　of　provision　for　the　army　from　the　sea；　which　was　formerly
long　and　expensive；　he　made　speedy　and　easy。　For　the　mouth；　of　the
Rhone；　by　the　influx　of　the　sea；　being　barred　and　almost　filled　up
with　sand　and　mud　mixed　with　clay；　the　passage　there　became　narrow；
difficult；　and　dangerous　for　the　ships　that　brought　their
provisions。　Hither；　therefore；　bringing　his　army；　then　at　leisure；
he　drew　a　great　trench：　and　by　turning　the　course　of　a　great　part　of
the　river；　brought　it　to　a　convenient　point　on　the　shore　where　the
water　was　deep　enough　to　receive　ships　of　considerable　burden；　and
where　there　was　a　calm　and　easy　opening　to　the　sea。　And　this　still
retains　the　name　it　took　from　him。
　　The　enemy　dividing　themselves　into　two　parts；　the　Cimbri　arranged　to
go　against　Catulus　higher　up　through　the　country　of　the　Norici；　and　to
force　that　passage；　the　Teutones　and　Ambrones　to　march　against
Marius　by　the　seaside　through　Liguria。　The　Cimbri　were　a
considerable　time　in　doing　their　part。　But　the　Teutones　and　Ambrones
with　all　expedition　passing　over　the　interjacent　country；　soon　came　in
sight；　in　numbers　beyond　belief；　of　a　terrible　aspect；　and　uttering
strange　cries　and　shouts。　Taking　up　a　great　part　of　the　plain　with
their　camp；　they　challenged　Marius　to　battle；　he　seemed　to　take　no
notice　of　them；　but　kept　his　soldiers　within　their　fortification；
and　sharply　reprehended　those　that　were　too　forward　and　eager　to
show　their　courage；　and　who；　out　of　passion；　would　needs　be
fighting；　calling　them　traitors　to　their　country；　and　telling　them
they　were　not　now　to　think　of　the　glory　of　triumphs　and　trophies；
but　rather　how　they　might　repel　such　an　impetuous　tempest　of　war　and
save　Italy。
　　Thus　he　discoursed　privately　with　his　officers　and　equals；　but
placed　the　soldiers　by　turns　upon　the　bulwarks　to　survey　the　enemy；
and　so　made　them　familiar　with　their　shape　and　voice；　which　were
indeed　altogether　extravagant　and　barbarous；　and　he　caused　them　to
observe　their　arms；　and　the　way　of　using　them；　so　that　in　a　little
time　what　at　first　appeared　terrible　to　their　apprehensions；　by
often　viewing　became　familiar。　For　he　very　rationally　supposed　that
the　strangeness　of　things　often　makes　them　seem　formidable　when　they
are　not　so；　and　that　by　our　better　acquaintance；　even　things　which　are
really　terrible　lose　much　of　their　frightfulness。　This　daily
converse　not　only　diminished　some　of　the　soldiers'　fears；　but　their
indignation　warmed　and　inflamed　their　courage　when　they　heard　the
threats　and　insupportable　insolence　of　their　enemies；　who　not　only
plundered　and　depopulated　all　the　country　round；　but　would　even
contemptuously　and　confidently　attack　the　ramparts。
　　Complaints　of　the　soldiers　now　began　to　come　to　Marius's　ears。　〃What
effeminacy　does　Marius　see　in　us；　that　he　should　thus　like　women
lock　us　up　from　encountering　our　enemies？　Come　on；　let　us　show
ourselves　men；　and　ask　him　if　he　expects　others　to　fight　for　Italy；
and　means　merely　to　employ　us　in　servile　offices；　when　he　would　dig
trenches；　cleanse　places　of　mud　and　dirt；　and　turn　the　course　of　the
rivers？　It　was　to　do　such　works　as　these；　it　seems；　that　he　gave　us
all　our　long　training；　he　will　return　home；　and　boast　of　these　great
performances　of　his　consulships　to　the　people。　Does　the　defeat　of
Carbo　and　Caepio；　who　were　vanquished　by　the　enemy；　affright　him？
Surely　they　were　much　inferior　to　Marius　both　in　glory　and　valour；　and
commanded　a　much　weaker　army：　at　the　worst；　it　is　better　to　be　in
action；　though　we　suffer　for　it　like　them；　than　to　sit　idle　spectators
of　the　destruction　of　our　allies　and　companions。〃　Marius；　not　a　little
pleased　to　hear　this；　gently　appeased　them；　pretending　that　he　did　not
distrust　their　valour；　but　that　he　took　his　measures　as　to　the　time
and　place　of　victory　from　some　certain　oracles。
　　And；　in　fact；　he　used　solemnly　to　carry　about　in　a　litter　a　Syrian
woman；　called　Martha；　a　supposed　prophetess；　and　to　do　sacrifice　by
her　directions。　She　had　formerly　been　driven　away　by　the　senate；　to
whom　she　addressed　herself；　offering　to　inform　them　about　these
affairs；　and　to　foretell　future　events；　and　after　this　betook
herself　to　the　women；　and　gave　them　proofs　of　her　skill；　especially
Marius's　wife；　at　whose　feet　she　sat　when　she　was　viewing　a　contest　of
gladiators；　and　correctly　foretold　which　of　them　should　overcome。
She　was　for　this　and　the　like　predictings　sent　by　her　to　Marius　and
the　army；　where　she　was　very　much　looked　up　to；　and；　for　the　most
part；　carried　about　in　a　litter。　When　she　went　to　sacrifice；　she
wore　a　purple　robe　lined　and　buckled　up；　and　had　in　her　hand　a
little　spear　trimmed　with　ribbons　and　garlands。　This　theatrical　show
made　many　question　whether　Marius　really　gave　any　credit　to　her
himself；　or　only　played　the　counterfeit；　when　he　showed　her
publicly；　to　impose　upon　the　soldiers。
　　What；　however；　Alexander　the　Myndian　relates　about　the　vultures　does
really　deserve　admiration；　that　always　before　Marius's　victories　there
appeared　two　of　them；　and　accompanied　the　army；　which　were　known　by
their　brazen　collars　（the　soldiers　having　caught　them　and　put　these
about　their　necks；　and　so　let　them　go；　from　which　time　they　in　a
manner　knew　and　saluted　the　soldiers）；　and　whenever　these　appeared
in　their　marches；　they　used　to　rejoice　at　it；　and　thought　themselves
sure　of　some　success。　Of　the　many　other　prodigies　that　then　were　taken
notice　of；　the　greater　part　were　but　of　the　ordinary　stamp；　it　was；
however；　reported　that　at　Ameria　and　Tuder；　two　cities　in　Italy；　there
were　seen　at　nights　in　the　sky　flaming　darts　and　shields；　now　waved
about；　and　then　again　clashing　against　one　another；　all　in
accordance　with　the　postures　and　motions　soldiers　use　in　fighting；
that　at　length　one　party　retreating；　and　the　other　pursuing；　they
all　disappeared　westward。　Much　about　the　same　time　came　Bataces；　one
of　Cybele's　priests；　from　Pessinus；　and　reported　how　the　goddess　had
declared　to　him　out　of　her　oracle　that　the　Romans　should　obtain　the
victory。　The　senate　giving　credit　to　him；　and　voting　the　goddess　a
temple　to　be　built　in　hopes　of　the　victory；　Aulus　Pompeius；　a　tribune；
prevented　Bataces；　when　he　would　have　gone　and　told　the　people　this
same　story；　calling　him　impostor；　and　ignominiously　pulling　him　off
the　hustings；　which　action　in　the　end　was　the　main　thing　that　gained
credit　for　the　man's　story；　for　Aulus　had　scarce　dissolved　the
assembly；　and　returned　home；　when　a　violent　fever　seized　him；　and　it
was　matter　of　universal　remark；　and　in　everybody's　mouth；　that　he　died
within　a　week　after。
　　Now　the　Teutones；　whilst　Marius　lay　quiet；　ventured　to　attack　his
camp；　from　whence；　however；　being　encountered　with　showers　of　darts；
and　losing　several　of　their　men；　they　determined　to　march　forward；
hoping　to　reach　the　other　side　of　the　Alps　without　opposition；　and；
packing　up　their　baggage；　passed　securely　by　the　Roman　camp；　where　the
greatness　of　their　number　was　especially　made　evident　by　the　long　time
they　took　in　their　march；　for　they　were　said　to　be　six　days
continually　going　on　in　passing　Marius's　fortifications；　they
marched　pretty　near；　and　revilingly　asked　the　Romans　if　they　would
send　any　commands　by　them　to　their　wives；　for　they　would　shortly　be
with　them。　As　soon　as　they　were　passed　and　had　gone　on　a　little
distance　ahead；　Marius　began　to　move；　and　follow　them　at　his
leisure；　always　encamping　at　some　small　distance　from　them；　choosing
also　strong　positions；　and　carefully　fortifying　them；　that　he　might
quarter　with　safety。　Thus　they　marched　till　they　came　to　the　place
called　Sextilius's　Waters；　from　whence　it　was　but　a　short　way　before
being　amidst　the　Alps；　and　here　Marius　put　himself　in　readiness　for
the　encounter。
　　He　chose　a　place　for　his　camp　of　considerable　strength；　but　where
there　was　a　scarcity　of　water；　designing；　it　is　said；　by　this　means；
also；　to　put　an　edge　on　his　soldiers'　courage；　and　when　several　were
not　a　little　distressed；　and　complained　of　thirst；　pointing　to　a　river
that　ran　near　the　enemy's　camp；　〃There；〃　said　he；　〃you　may　have　drink；
if　you　will　buy　it　with　your　blood。〃　〃Why；　then；〃　replied　they；　〃do
you　not　lead　us　to　them；　before　our　blood　is　dried　up　in　us？〃　He
answered；　in　a　softer　tone；　〃Let　us　first　fortify　our　camp；〃　and　the
soldiers；　though　not　without　repining；　proceeded　to　obey。　Now　a
great　company　of　their　boys　and　camp　followers；　having　neither　dr